Without a doubt, I count being the mother of two boys, as one of the greatest privileges of my life. Brothers, just twenty months apart, and from the very first day they could not have been more different. This road I am walking with them has been quite the adventure.
No, it has not been all smiles and ease with these two. But all the squabbling, fussing, and rough-housing, pales when I hold it up to the beautiful friendship these boys have with each other.
The differences in their personalities is a constant source of amusement and amazement to me. At the same time I love seeing how well they fit together and balancing each other out. Knocking the edges off each other (which is sometimes a source of real friction
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If you were to watch my boys eat Junior Mints, you would know almost everything there is to know about their personalities. Hand J 10 Junior Mints and he will eat one… maybe two, and save the rest. They will be tucked away in some secure little place and savored throughout the following days. Give G the same 10 Junior mints, and he will pop them all in his mouth at once and grin at you with a big chocolately grin. Then he will spend the next several days quietly sneaking mints from J‘s stash.
J takes life kind of seriously. He is a rule follower. He has a lot of nervous energy. Even when he is sitting down some part of his body is still moving. He loves being on the go, and in the thick of things. He doesn’t know how to take teasing, it stresses him out a little when someone teases him. He very responsible, and notices everything. J‘s primary form of communication comes in the form of questions. So having a conversation with him feels a bit like being interrogated. He wears his heart on his sleeve. He would make a terrible poker player because every thought he thinks is written all over his face. He has the biggest most tender heart.
J is also a saver. Actually hoarder would be closer to the mark.
He has a corner in his room were he stashes all his valuable and much needed trinkets and items. The following list is just a small sampling of the things I found while cleaning their room: a sugar cookie from Christmas, the children’s menu from when we went to Chili’s 2 months ago, and unused package of crayons (he doesn’t want to use them because the wouldn’t be new anymore), shoe boxes in a variety of sizes, random clips and ropes… and so on and so forth…
He gets a little nervous when I clean the room. He knows me well. I am not a saver. I am a “what it the world is this, let’s throw it out” kinda girl.
G is a charmer. He has big dreamy eyes and a slow smile. He’s not shy but he’s quieter than J. He moves slower, takes his time, enjoys all of life’s little charms. He is infatuated with little things. G tends to fly under the radar most of the time, which is exactly how he likes it. That way no ones notices that he has helped himself to 10 Oreos, until it has already happened and he is long gone. G is the most generous soul I know. He will forfeit any toy, or position of favor he might have, in order to bring peace to an argument. He has an amazing imagination! J didn’t know how to play in an imaginative way until G taught him. He tells me the most interesting stories and uses the most descriptive words. The other night we were getting in the car to go to Awanas. G is 10 steps behind (as usual) looking up at the sky. He then says to me, “Mom, those stars are all really close together. They are touching each other. They must be kissing stars. They must be having a star party.” Kissing stars… how delightful.
Most of all I am so proud of how they treat each other. They are the first to cheer the other on. They get heated with each other now and again, but they are so quick to forgive. They are protective of one another. Since they were little I have told them, “You two look after each other. Don’t let anyone mess with your brother. You treat your brother better than you would a friend.” And for the most part they hold true to that.
I can’t wait to see what the future holds for these boys. I gives me great comfort to know that whatever is in store for them, they will face it together.